Gas fractionating apparatus



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June 28, 1960 A. S. LUNDY GAS FRACTIONATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 2, 1959iiil www 'im i ,iv I.

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United States Patent Oliice j 2,942,540 .Y Patented Junfe 28,1966

2,942,540 GAS FRAcrioNATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 2, 1959, Ser. No.784,592V 3 Claims. (C'l. 98-115) Mich., assignor to Mich., a corporationThis invention relates to gas fractionating apparatus, and moreparticularly to apparatus for separating a rising column of gascontaining particulate matter into a heavily contaminated stream andlinto a lesser contaminated stream.

In my Patent No. 2,567,776, which issued September 11, 1951, forTreatment of Gases and the Like, a gas fractionating apparatus isprovided adjacent a grate and is eiective in removing a heavilycontaminated stream so that the same may be passed through atower orcolumn while separating also a less contaminated stream which may bevented to theV atmosphere. While, for the purpose of simplicity, twostreams are referred to in the operation of the apparatus, it will beunderstoodk that any number of streams of gas varying in contaminationor in the particle matter carried, may be separated for differentdesired purposes.

While the apparatus shown in my Patent 2,567,776 is very effective, whenthe casting or other product giving 01T the gas column is of a shape sothat the gas column is encompassed by the intake of the fractionatingapparatus, difficulty is encountered where the casting is of a differentshape and projects a column of gas to which the intake of the apparatusis not adap-ted. For example, when a narrow, long casting is substitutedfor a square casting, the apparatus, which is designed primarily for thegas rising from the square casting, is not eective in treating the gasfrom the elongated casting. On the other hand, the problem iscomplicated by the fact that where the intakes on the apparatus areenlarged to encompass a larger column of gas, the increased gas volumenullies the economies obtained by fractionating and requires additionaliloor space, which is usually not available.

I have discovered that fractionat-ing apparatus can be employed forefficiently handling columns of gas of varying shapes and ilowcharacteristics by designing the intakes to a multiple plenum or plenumsfor a constant velocity to give accurate separation and then providingmeans for changing the shape of the intake passage while maintaining thearea constant. In other words, by maintaining a constant area ratio atthe entrance of the plenums while changing the location of the point ofseparation between the twofractions of gas, I find that the apparatuscan be adjusted to meet changing conditions brought about by Ithetreatment of castings of varying shapes and other sources of gascolumns.'

An object of the invention is to provide apparatus for the fractionatingof gas columns of different dimensions and flow characteristics whilemaintaining a substantially constant velocity of withdrawal. A furtherobject is to provide a method and means for changing the manner in whichexhaust gas is divided into two or more fractions. Yet another object isto provide apparatus in which a divided plenumchamber is employed and inwhich divider sheets may be swung to different positions to accommodategas columns of different shapes while maintaining a constant area ratioat the entrance to the 2 plenums. Other speciiic objects and advantageswill appear as the specification proceeds. Y

The invention is shown, in an illustrative embodiment, by theaccompanying drawing, in which-l 'Figure l is a broken side view inelevation of fractionating apparatus embodying my invention; Fig. 2,v alongitudinal sectional view, the sectionbeing taken at line 2-2 of Fig.l; Fig. l3, a broken front view in elevation of the separatingapparatus; and Fig. 4, a broken perspective detail view showing theoperation of the dlow control sheets.

In the illustration given, 10 designates a grate upon which rests acasting 11. A support 12. adjacent the grate supports a casing 13providing a plenum chamber 14. Leading vfrom the upper portion of theplenum is a pipe 15 which is adapted to discharge less contaminated gasto the atmosphere or to other desired destinations. A lower pipe 16 maylead to a tower column in which the gas is washed by liquid or otherwisecleansed. y Both pipes 15 and 16 are preferably maintained under vacuumor suction so as to provide a constant velocity of flow through theplenum chamber 14.

-The entrance Ito the plenum chamber 14 is preferably through a lframe17 provided with spaced louvers -18.` Within the casing 13 VI providehinged sheet members which may be moved to different positions to changethe shape Vof the plenum intakes. Side sheets 19 are supported by hinges20fastened to bars 27 attached to casing 13. Divider sheet 21 issupported by hinges 22 fastened to bar 26 attached to casing 13. Sidesheets 19 may be swung laterally of the plenum and divider sheet 21 maybe swung up or down to vary the shapes of the plenum intakes.-Triangular filler sheets 23 are secured by screws 24 to divider sheet21. Slots 2S in divider sheet 21 permit adjustment yof filler sheets 23to close any space between sheets 19 and 21 when the sheets 19 are swunglaterally and sheet 21 is moved, as illustrated best in Figs. 2 and 4.For clarification, in Fig. 4, filler sheet 23 is shown separated fromsheet 21 to whichit is normally attached. Thus, when sheets 19 are swungoutwardly and sheet 21 upwardly, the triangular sheets 23 move upwardlywith sheet 21Vand may be moved outwardly to bridge the space betweensheets-19 and 21 to provide a closed inner chamber.

By employing the hinged longitudinal sheet 21 extending approximately ofthe length of the hood, and hinged end sheets 19 swinging at rightangles to sheetV 21 and at theends of sheet 21, and by employing twoad.V

of the Vhood would be exhausted to the outside and an increased portionof the gas stream near the middle of the hood would be passed to thecollector. In this operation, there is maintained a constant area ratioat the entrance to the plenums at the louver frame 17 while changing thelocation of the point of separation between the two fractions of gas.

In operation, the column of gas rises, as indicated by the arrows in.Figs. l, and under the suction imparted through the pipes 15 and 16, therising column is divided into two fractions, the lower column containingmore of the contaminants, while the upper fraction containing lesscontaminants is drawn into the upper pipe 15. When the shape of thecasting or other source of contaminant is changed, the divider in theplenum chamber may be swung upwardly or downwardly and theside sheets 19may be swung outwardly or inwardly. If the side sheets 19 are swungoutwardly so as to increase the length of the chamber, the divider sheet2,1 is preferably swung downwardly so as to maintain a'constant velocityor intake aiea. In each change, the sector plates 23 are swung inwardlyor outwardly toprovide 'a closure between plates 19 and 21. Thus, bythereadymanipulation just described,rthe partition between the plenumchambers dividing l.the gas ow -intoAthe two separate outlets can bemodified to -provide an elongated narrow intake yor Ya shorter `broadintake, the area of the intake leading to the -pipe V16 being maintainedconstantalthough the shape thereof is widely var iedgV By` thismeansfefective.-separationl of the heavy stream with its particulatelmatter.or other contaminants may beat: complished1 irrespective of theshape 'of the gaseous. column `risingfronl the grate or other sourcebelow. d

While, in thefregoing specification, I havefset forth a specificstructurein considerable detail ,for the purpose of illustrating anembodiment of the invention, it will be understood that such details maybe varied widely by those skilled in theart without departing fromthespirit of my invention.

1. In apparatus for treating a column of gas, support means adjacentsaid column of gas, at least a pair of pipes carried by said supportmeans and having inlets in spaced relation, a casing enclosingthe inletsof said pipes and providing a chamber open at the front thereof, and adivider sheet pivotally Vmounted 'on'said casing between s'aidpipeinlets and swingable upwardly and downwardly within said chamber todivide'the gas flow into said pipe inlets.

2. The structure of claim l in which side sheets mounted within saidchamber are pivotally mounted within said casing substantially at rightangles to the pivotal supports for said divider and in which sheet meansis provided for `closing Ythe space between the divider and said sidesheets Awhereby the shape of Athe chamber leading to one inlet may bechanged while maintaining th area of the intake constant.

'3. Inapparatus forti-eating a column f gas rising in a general verticalplane, support means, a pair of pipes carried by said support and havingintakes in spaced verti- Y cal relationagcasingenclosing the inlets ofsaid pipes and providing a chamber open vat the .front thereof adjacentsaid column of gas-,ea divider sheet pivotally mounted in said casingbetween said pipe inlets and swingable upwardly and downwardly withinsaid chamber to divide thegas flow into.,said.pipeinlets, and meansassociated with said divider sheet for vmaintaining the area of theintake to each pipe constant when the divider is swung to diierentpositions, 'said means comprising side sheets mounted on pivots carriedby said casing substantially at right angles to the pivots and saiddivider sheet, and filler sheet means for closing the space between thedivider and said side sheets. Y

References Cited in the -tile of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,422,330 Allerdice June 17,1947 2,567,776 Lundy Sept. 11, 19512,704,977V Hayes Mar. 29, 1955

